The humble zucchini is an amazing ingredient. When we set to coming up with our list of 30 zucchini recipes, we were shocked by the sheer number of dishes that can be made using this little green vegetable. Nevertheless, we persevered and would like to show you some great ideas on how to use up your zucchini. Read on to find out more!
30 Easy Zucchini Recipes
1. Zucchini Sesame Loaves
Did you know it was possible to make bread with zucchini? Well, we’ve had cornbread and pumpkin bread, so we don’t see any reason why not. This bread is citrusy and delicious. It contains quite a lot of sugar, so it is more sweet than savory. The zucchini in the recipe gives the bread the slightest green tinge too!
2. Zucchini Fritters
This is a great way to use up any zucchini lurking in the fridge. Kids love these. Combine shredded zucchini with a tablespoon of flour, an egg, and some cumin seeds. Season and fry until both sides of your patty are golden. These taste amazing and are also great as an entrée if you have guests.
3. Lamb Tray Bake with Zucchini
Traybake has to be one of our favorites. We make small lamb patties and dot an oven tray with heaps of cut zucchini, tomatoes, and red onion. Give the lot a drizzle of olive oil, and then bake for 45 minutes. Top with crumbly feta cheese. It’s so simple (and delicious).
4. Zucchini with Grilled Chicken
The chicken in this dish is marinated in olive oil with lemon, basil, and garlic. It is really the star of the show, so you won’t want it overpowered by any side dishes. This grilled zucchini recipe makes a great choice. It also works to add a vibrant splash of color to the plate. Char the zucchini on a griddle pan to get some beautiful eye-catching signature stripes
5. Ratatouille
We couldn’t make a list of 30 zucchini recipes without included ratatouille! As the zucchini roasts, it releases moisture and flavor into this amazing vegetable side dish. You can serve it alongside grilled meat, but we have occasionally been known to eat a whole bowl just to ourselves. This one is great if you have a fridge full of veg that need to be used up. You can freeze it too!
6. Zucchini And Orzo Salad
You might think that orzo is rice… nope, it is actually pasta. The name translates to ‘barley’ in Italian due to its resemblance to grains. Names aside, it is delicious, even more so when it is paired up with strips of shredded zucchini. We also like to add a splash of lemon juice for a citrusy and fresh flavor.
7. Zucchini Fries
Zucchini fries are super simple to make and are a great way to get (trick) the kids to eat their greens. We like to fry ours in hot oil, but you can also roast them in the oven if you like. There is something about the crunch with the soft and juicy center that we love so much. You have to include a dip. Our favorite of the moment is blue cheese or sour cream.
8. Zucchini Tots
We love tater tots, but they aren’t the best if you keep the calories low. Why not give this recipe a whirl instead. Just like tater tots, they are crunchy and really tasty. We use panko breadcrumbs to ensure these crisp up nicely, and then we bake them to keep them low fat.
9. Corn Stuffed Zucchini
If your knife skills are up to it, you can create a delicious dish with an edible bowl. Our corn stuffed zucchini sits like a little boat, packed full of sweet and juicy corn kernels along with cubes of sweet red bell peppers and a secret blend of herbs and spices. This is a colorful dish that works well with summer barbecues and bright days.
10. Zucchini Pasta
If you like Italian food but aren’t the biggest fan of all the carbs, let us offer this suggestion. If you have a vegetable slicer or are handy with a sharp knife, then this is ideal. Slice zucchini into the thinnest strips you can (or into ribbons) and then boil for around 4-6 minutes. What you are left with is a really great pasta substitute that works in place of the real thing. All the taste and a fraction of the calories? Where do we sign up?
11. Asian Zucchini Noodles
In a similar vein to the above, zucchini can also be used in place of noodles (pasta and noodles are exactly the same things… Marco polo brought them to Italy from China in the 16th century). This dish is light and refreshing and is great on hot summer days. Just combine your ‘noodles’ with cilantro garlic, a little sesame oil, and some vinegar. For a fiery kick, add a sliced red pepper.
12. Summer Spring Rolls
Let us carry on with the many uses for zucchini. Aside from pasta, it can also be used as a wrapper. These summer rolls are crunchy and taste really fresh. We stuff them with chopped cucumbers, carrots, and pickled red sweet onions. They are great finger food if you have a buffet.
13. Lemon Butter Risotto with Zucchini
Ah, risotto. A lot of effort, but well worth it. We start by frying the zucchini in butter. We then add the rice and some herbs such as thyme, garlic, and a squeeze of lemon juice. From there, we gradually add stock until the liquid is absorbed and the risotto turns thick and creamy. Don’t forget to add a handful of parmesan cheese for that stringy cheesy goodness in each mouthful.
14. Stuffed Zucchini with Goats Cheese
Speaking of cheese, check this one out. Because zucchini is mild in flavor, it can be paired with stronger tastes very easily. Goats cheese is strong and quite salty, perfect for balancing out with the zucchini. We add another few kinds of cheese, too, including parmesan and smooth ricotta.
15. Zucchini Chips
Potato chips are nice, but they are not the healthiest. This is another recipe that requires you to be a pro with a knife or get a mandolin. The best way to get a consistent result is to fry these chips in hot oil, but you can also roast them in the oven. Whatever you choose, make sure that you sprinkle them with plenty of seasoning. We like to add a dusting of ranch to ours.
16. Zucchini Gratin
Want to cut down on the potatoes but can’t do without a helping of creamy gratin? This is the answer. We assemble rows of gorgeously green zucchini, handfuls of shredded cheese and finish with lashings of cream and garlic. A quick topping of cheese and then a blast in the oven is about all there is to it. Cut into thick squares for the ultimate presentation.
17. Vegetable Kebabs
We all love a barbecue, and this dish is ideal, without the meat. Cut zucchini into ribbons and double thread onto skewers along with red onion chunks and slices of red pepper. Grill over high heat until the zucchini turns golden at the edges. Don’t overcook it. You want to keep just a hint of that crunch.
18. Sausage Stuffed Zucchini
If all this talk of vegetables has got you craving meat, this could be the one for you. We squeeze the middles out of link sausages and fry along with onions and marinara sauce before scooping into hollowed-out boats of zucchini. We then top with shredded mozzarella and bake until oozy and melted. This is real comfort food. It looks great too!
19. Vegetarian Lasagna
You can taste the goodness of this dish with every mouthful. It is packed full of good things; sweet red tomatoes, stringy cheese, bechamel sauce, caramelized onions, and zucchini layers. Be sure to use fresh herbs in this dish. We often make a huge portion. Eat half, freeze half. It’s the way forward!
Related: What to serve with lasagna
20. Zucchini Pizza
This is more like a summer flatbread than a pizza. We don’t use tomato sauce. We use juicy discs of fresh zucchini along with creamy ricotta, freshly sliced tomatoes, and finished off with a good drizzle of some fragrant olive oil.
21. Carrot and Zucchini Salad
Salad is alright, but it can get a little boring. Brighten any plate with this. We slice carrots and zucchini into ribbons and mix with a mixture of sesame oil, soy sauce, and a little sugar. This dish is sweet, vibrant, and really colorful.
22. Zucchini Carpaccio
Capaccio isn’t to everyone’s taste. If raw meat leaves you cold, then try this for a fresh and tasty alternative. Slice zucchini into thin ribbons and serve topped with thin slices of avocado, toasted almonds, and a quick squeeze of lemon juice.
23. Zucchini and Fish Tacos
Traditional tacos can be a little heavy. Why not lighten the load by throwing in some crisp and sweet zucchini. We coat our zucchini in chipotle powder and then flash fry it until it is charred on both sides. From there, all we do is combine with a roasted fish fillet, some cilantro, and a splash of lime juice.
24. Lemon Oregano Chicken
Do you like stripy food? This one is great if you are doing a barbecue. After marinating the chicken, you can throw this alongside some cut zucchini and get those signature stripes along both. The marinade of lemon and oregano works really well with the zucchini too!
25. Zucchini Ciambotta
If you haven’t heard of ciambotta before, let us explain. It is a rich vegetable stew that is like a thick soup. It is really tasty and is great for those cold winter nights. We love making this as it allows us to clear the fridge of the leftover vegetables that we never got around to using. Best served alongside a crusty baguette with lashings of butter.
26. Zucchini and Salmon
Salmon has a distinctive taste, but it can be a little subtle. You mustn’t steamroll over this flavor with anything too strong. Zucchini is the ideal accompaniment. We like to pan-fry our zucchini in thick wedges (with a fair bit of butter) until it is completely soft and tender. It makes a nice contrast with the pink salmon too!
See Also: What goes with salmon
27. Zucchini Quesadilla
If you are looking for a meat-free quesadilla, then zucchini is a great choice. We make a filling up of zucchini, fiery peppers and add a large helping of guacamole. Top with shredded cheese and pan fry your tortillas until the cheese melts. Absolutely gorgeous.
28. One-Pot Zucchini Mushroom Pasta
Shoes off, and relax. That’s what we like to do when we are done working. Made possible mid-week by this easy one-pot zucchini recipe! We combine mushrooms, zucchini, and a handful of peas in a dutch oven along with the pasta of our choice. We boil it on high heat until the pasta is cooked through, and then we add a knob of butter, along with some heavy cream, parmesan, and plenty of black pepper. It really is that easy!
29. Zucchini Pizzelle
If you didn’t know, Pizzelle translates as ‘little pizzas’. If you haven’t got time to make pizza dough, zucchini can come to the rescue. It is also really low in calories. We top ours with a mixture of tomato sauce and a small pinch of mozzarella before baking in a red hot oven for 10 minutes. This is great finger food for parties.
Related: Best Pizzelle Maker
30. Lemon and Garlic Zucchini
You’ll already know that we love simple dishes. They aren’t much simpler than this. In a hot griddle pan, we combine butter, lemon juice, and garlic, adding thin discs of zucchini to caramelize and char. Leave the zucchini just a little al dente and enjoy with a large glass of chilled white wine!
Conclusion
One vegetable, so many possibilities. Zucchini can be used as a pasta substitute, a pizza base, and even a bowl for other ingredients. Who knew? Our list of 30 zucchini recipes is versatile and should provide you with plenty of options for cooking for one or cooking for a crowd. Which was your favorite from the list? Let us know in the comments.
